Polk County Health Data
Polk County, North Carolina
CDC County Health RankingsHealth Score
63/100
Average
Life Expectancy
76.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
12.3%
Health Statistics
Life Expectancy
76.5 yr
State avg 74.4 yr
National avg 77.5 yr
Uninsured Rate
12.3%
State avg 12.5%
National avg 9%
Primary Care Providers
76
per 100K population
National avg 82
Mental Health Providers
224
per 100K population
National avg 350
Poor / Fair Health
13.2%
State avg 19.1%
National avg 19.6%
Healthcare Access
Primary Care Physicians
35.6
per 100K residentsCDC: 76.3 per 100K
Dentists
10.2
per 100K residents
Nurse Practitioners & PAs
10.2
per 100K residents
Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.
Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health
These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Polk County differs most from state and national norms.
Most prevalent chronic conditions
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity | 35.7% | 37.5% | 37.6% | 1.8 pts better than state |
| Diabetes | 9.4% | 11.2% | 11.2% | 1.8 pts better than state |
| High Blood Pressure | 32.1% | 35.3% | 33.5% | 3.2 pts better than state |
| Depression | 26.8% | 25.8% | 24.1% | 1.0 pts worse than state |
Health-risk behaviors
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Cigarette Smoking | 14.1% | 16.0% | 16.3% | 1.9 pts better than state |
| Binge Drinking | 17.4% | 15.9% | 17.8% | 1.5 pts worse than state |
| Physical Inactivity | 21.8% | 25.3% | 27.0% | 3.5 pts better than state |
Preventive-care uptake
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Routine Checkup | 76.8% | 78.1% | 74.9% | 1.3 pts worse than state |
| Dental Visit (past year) | 68.6% | 59.7% | 57.3% | 8.9 pts better than state |
| Mammography (women 50–74) | 77.0% | 77.3% | 73.3% | near state average |
Daily-life impact
| Measure | Polk | State avg | National avg | Vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Mental Distress | 17.8% | 18.5% | 18.6% | 0.7 pts better than state |
| Short Sleep Duration | 30.3% | 35.6% | 37.3% | 5.3 pts better than state |
These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Polk County nationally on dental visit (past year).
Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.
Data Story
Polk County Residents Report Lower Poor Health Rates Than Average
Health data brief for Polk County, North Carolina.
In Polk County, 13.2% of residents report being in poor or fair health, a figure lower than the national rate of 17%. Life expectancy in the county is 76.5 years, which is higher than the North Carolina state figure of 74.4 years but lower than the national expectation of 77 years. The uninsured rate is 12.3%, which is similar to the state rate of 12.5% but higher than the 10% national mark. Access to care includes 76 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, which is slightly higher than the national median of 70. There are 224 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national median of 250. For further information, see the CDC County Health Rankings methodology.
Sources
- CDC County Health Rankings v2
- HHS NPPES
Get Care in Polk County, North Carolina
Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.
Hospitals near you
Compare all on Medicare.gov →Advent Health Polk
EReHealth Insurance
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the health ranking of Polk County, NC?
What is the life expectancy in Polk County?
How does Polk County health compare to the North Carolina average?
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Why is Polk County healthier than the North Carolina average?
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Data Sources
Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.